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"In the 21st Century let's build the super-fast broadband network that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs for Britain."

The Tories say they will end BT's "local loop monopoly" and allow other operators to move in with their own ducts and fibre cables, an approach that has proved successful in countries such as Singapore and South Korea.

Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary said that the policy would lead to "significantly faster" broadband than the Government's commitment of a universal service of two megabits by 2012.

He added: "We are currently one of the slowest countries in the developed world for broadband. With the Conservatives we'll become one of the fastest. “

Labour accused the Tories of “playing catch-up”. And Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman, questioned how the party would fund the policy.

"Anyone can promise the earth – what matters is how you pay for it,” he said.

"All independent research shows that the market simply cannot provide high speed broadband in all parts of the country in the short term without investment.”

A spokesman for BT added: "The UK boasts one of the most competitive broadband markets in the world with BT having a 25 per cent market share.

"Ninety nine per cent of homes can access copper broadband, prices are low and close to 20 million homes are already enjoying services.”